2016 ALA Senior National Championship

Wednesday June 15, 2016
by Lacrosse WA

2016 ALA Women's All Stars

2016 ALA Men's All Stars

The 2016 ALA Senior Lacrosse Championship was a lacrosse tournament the likes of no other National Championship held in Australia before. In a change to the usual format the women's tournament was held first with WA, SA and Victoria competing for the title of National Champions and a combined NSW/Qld and English team completing the contenders.

Coming into the Tournament as 2016 National Champions, the Victorian women played last year's runner up SA with the Reds pulling off the first of many Tournament upsets with a 10-9 win. Our young West Australian team hit the ground running with a comfortable victory over NSW/Qld 25-0.

Despite South Australia's first game results, Vicoria def SA in the Championship Final 11-9, retaining their Championship crown for the fourth year in a row.

Day 4 of the Tournament saw the Men's games begin with last year's Grand Finalists, WA and Victoria going head to head in a nailbiter. Despite an early lead, Victoria caught up in the second half and in a full time thriller the scores were equal at 11 a piece with Victoria stealing the victory with the first goal in overtime.

WA was also represented by 6 WA players in the 2016 U19 Australian Men's Lacrosse Team who took part in the Tournament in prepartion for the World Championship to be held in Canada in July. Brayden Panting, Matt Wood, Keegan Davies, Declan Pityway, Luke Walton and Ryan Hockey gained valuable experience competing in Australia's highest level of lacrosse. Injured superstar Sam Koczwara was also there proving how valuable his leadership skills are despite his unavailability to play due to an injury at the U18's. Matt Wood was awarded game day MVP and Luke Walton was awarded the honour twice.

Day 7 was the start of the Women's International Test Matches between Australia and England. With both teams going into the Grand Final 1-1, the predominately Aussie crowd were very excited, but Team England got over the top of the Aussies winning 13-7. WA has 3 players in the 2017 Women's Australian Squad, Elizabeth Hinkes, Bec Banyard and Ashtyn Hiron.

Our West Australian Teams rounded out their campaigns with well deserved players in their respective ALA All Star Teams.